Bobref

The two are not mutually exclusive. 😉

We’re in the High School Forum ... but I still have my VHS copy of that game.

Because, in theory, some amount of additional debt could end up being the lesser of two evils, given the extraordinary circumstances. I’d have to see the thinking behind the stimulus to have an informed opinion. That’s why shortcut thinking like “more debt = bad” is just intellectually lazy.

I’m gonna need a little more in-depth than that. That sounds more like opinion than analysis.

Is there an economic case to be made for the stimulus? Or is it just an obvious attempt to “buy” votes in advance of November?

Great story. It appears we are in agreement that big plays come from big players.

These days, positive threads can be helpful. Describe the best play you ever saw at a high school game. It could have been an athletically superior play, a big play at a critical time, or just something that came unexpectedly out of the blue. Here’s mine: It was the 2006 semistate, South Newton @ Sheridan, in the midst of Nick Zachery’s great run for the Blackhawks. Sheridan won the game comfortably, but South Newton’s terrific QB made it interesting for awhile. I believe he ended up the MVP of the North-South game the following summer. Zachery made a play during the game that I still have not seen equaled on a high school field. He was playing safety and a pass down the sideline was well overthrown. He went up over the receiver, with about a 40” vertical, caught the ball with one hand, and got a toe down inbounds before sprawling out on the track. One of the most remarkable plays I’ve ever seen at any level. I used to have a photo of it. I’ll see if I can find it.

Just so happens this was one of my very favorite games, too. Both teams 11-0, ranked #1 & #2. They brought our crew all the way down from the Region for this sectional final, which was unheard of. Just a brutal, physical game. Danville made a furious 4th quarter comeback using, of all things, a passing attack. They were basically a 100% option attack at the time. Scored with just a few seconds left and, to their credit, went for the win and didn’t get it. Unbelievable atmosphere and the type of effort from both teams that you don’t see but a few times in a career. One of my top 5, for sure.

Reform the tournament by requiring teams to qualify by placing in the top 50% of their class under a Sagarin-like system that takes into account both W-L and strength of schedule. Obviously, many other changes would flow from this, but I’m trying to keep it to just one.

It’s actually 53-1/3 ft. from hash to hash. That 4” could make a difference. 😂

For @Impartial_Observer:

So much for my memory. I checked my records and the Lowell - Plymouth game that I’m talking about was 2009. That’s the game Grubbe ran the ball 37 times — every one of them between the tackles. The final was 14-6.

2 of my favorites were Lowell games, both in 2007. Second week of the sectional at the Rockpile, the Red Devils and Plymouth went at one another hammer and tongs for the whole game. Lowell prevailed 14-8 in one of the most physical games I’ve seen. Later, I had them in the semistate at the Inferno before a packed house on a very cold evening when they beat Dwenger 10-7 on a last minute field goal.

I don’t know which is funnier, you ... or the rush to downvote virtually all of your posts.

Be fair. I never said it was justified. I said it was common.

So, when you come right down to it, this is a logical extension of a relatively commonplace taxation philosophy. You can certainly argue over whether it’s a wise, or even legal, exercise of the government’s power to levy taxes. But what you can’t argue is that it happens all the time, albeit in a different context and on a different scale. It’s the use of the term “bailout” that sets everyone’s teeth on edge. Form over substance.

Interesting question. Isn’t any form of tax “relief” a bailout of somebody?

As a general rule, I agree. However, Emerson said “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” It’s foolish to pretend the normal rules should apply in extraordinary circumstances such as 9/11 or a pandemic.

The author, a former US Secretary of Transportation, makes the case for temporary government support of the airline industry, as bookings crater and cancellations peak. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/03/19/coronavirus-crisis-save-aviation-industry-10-million-jobs-column/2870595001/ Coronavirus collapse: Airlines and the 10 million jobs they support need a lifeline 7The coronavirus crisis could have a more devastating economic impact on aviation than 9/11. Even the largest rainy-day fund would not be enough. On the morning of Sep. 11, 2001, I remember walking across the street toward the Capitol. I was looking forward to presiding over the floor of the House of Representatives as the congressman from Illinois’ 18th district. It was a gorgeous day, with blue skies and a balmy temperature. I know I don’t need to explain how much changed that day or to rehash the terror and pain everyone experienced. But I do think we need to take a look at the lesson learned in the weeks and months that followed, given the crisis our country is currently facing. At the time of the 9/11 terror attacks, the first industry to be hit was the airlines. The U.S. government grounded all flights to secure our nation and guarantee our safety. It was the right call. It was also devastating. It was devastating for our nation’s pilots, flight attendants and other aviation professionals, as well as for passengers and for our national economy. And even years later, when I was appointed by then-President Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Transportation, I still witnessed the long-term effects of that devastation. Plunging demand and no end in sight Today, as I watch the coronavirus crisis unfold, I fear that this public health crisis may have a greater impact on our airlines, aviation professionals and national economy. As with our response to 9/11, Congress needs to act fast. At the beginning of this crisis, it appeared as though the airlines would be able to weather the storm, thanks to careful planning and smart decisions meant to cover a future crisis. But government restrictions and widespread guidance to limit travel and social interactions have resulted in a sharp decline in bookings and a significant uptick in cancellations. In fact, multiple countries are considering bans on travel. The European Union is considering a ban on flights into its 27 member countries. The reality is that even the largest rainy-day fund would not be able to cover the downturn in demand that the aviation industry is facing, and the uncertainty of when it will end is cause for great concern. The bottom line is airlines are businesses, and a business can’t keep paying its employees if it lacks the revenue to do so. I can think of no decision more painful. The heart of the airline industry is its people — the men and women who fly the planes, maintain the fleet, and support the passengers. They are the ones who built aviation into the economic engine that drives so many other aspects of our economy. And these are well-paying, union jobs that support families and homes in countless communities across the country — jobs that help make up America’s middle class. Stay at home:Coronavirus fight needs paid sick leave to protect the health of all Americans After 9/11, the men and women of the industry lost jobs, pensions, benefits and stability. We cannot let them go through that again. And while all airlines are taking action to cut costs — from changing schedules to freezing hiring — that is not a long-term solution. In other words, aviation needs additional support to protect these crucial jobs and help these men and women continue to fuel America’s economy and provide for their families, especially now. U.S. airlines employ 750,000 people, but that’s just the start of the story. More than 10 million U.S. jobs rely on a strong aviation industry, from those who fly and maintain aircraft to the taxi drivers and shop workers that rely on air traffic to keep their business running. More than 7% of jobs in our country are directly or indirectly attributable to commercial aviation, in major hub cities like Phoenix and Charlotte, North Carolina, but also in small and medium communities from coast to coast as well. Aviation is a vital economic engine In total, the economic growth these men and women drive is responsible for over 5% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. With the financial impact of this health crisis expected to be far-reaching, that economic engine is more important than ever, and we need to take it seriously when the experts are telling us it could fall apart. Members of Congress and the Trump Administration are considering a third large-scale package to stimulate the economy and provide much-needed support to industries impacted by the pandemic. It is critical that the package include a series of investments to protect the aviation workers and this vital driver of our economy — in the form of grants, loan guarantees and tax relief. Now is not the time to delay. Immediate, intelligent action will save livelihoods and help our economy recover. Congress needs to move to support the men and women of the airline industry before it is too late. They have been there for this country, keeping us safe in the skies and allowing us to travel for business and to visit loved ones. They need a lifeline. Our economy and millions of workers cannot afford a delay. Ray LaHood, a former Republican congressman from Peoria, Illinois, was the 16th U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Follow him on Twitter: @RayLaHood

It wasn’t my “wish.” It was just a question that I answered based on current public health guidelines. I don’t know what the enforcement mechanisms are for this. But at the least, they deserve condemnation for endangering the community so thoughtlessly.

That may say more about the caliber of the opposition than anything else.